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This question was an instant ‘fire-starter’ for me. In 2018 I started my own business without knowing exactly what it was that I was going to do and without having a solid business plan. I knew, however, that I wanted to do something with creativity, drawing and being of service to help shape a world of creativity, love, peace and harmony.

By giving myself permission to explore this desire and go on an adventure. By giving myself time to grow and try different things. But most importantly, by giving myself permission to play, have fun and receive support my business is now growing. This is a beautiful and natural process unfolding and it’s there for you too.

Do you feel inspired by my story? Do you also have a deep feeling of wanting to go on an adventure and surf the waves of your life? Would you love to enrich your life and the lives of many others by creating from your heART? In a way so that comes naturally to you?

If so, perhaps you’re doubting where to start and how to change. Perhaps you even think it’s too late to make any changes to your life. Or perhaps you know exactly what you want, but you find it hard to bring your beautiful and creative plans into practice.

From my experiences as a pedagogue, teacher, mother, surfer and artist, I learned that following your (creative) dreams brings happiness, joy and fulfillment, and that it’s never too late to make a change. I also know that receiving support in the process is essential. I’d be honored to go surfing with you in ‘the ocean of change’ and catch the creative waves of your life.

You might feel that some things in your life or in your business aren’t serving you any longer. But you can’t quite put your finger on it. Perhaps you’re feeling tired and not good enough.

This happened to me and I realized it was because of certain words that I’d been using quite often. Words are powerful and some of these’d become my mindset. A mindset however, can trick you if it’s not aligned with your heart.

This insight and these 7 questions helped me to connect with my heart again.

Align:

What do I value the most? Am I true to it?

Retreat:

How can I be kinder to myself?

Clarity:

When I listen to my heart, what does it say?

Play more:

When do I feel most alive?

Relax:

Which expectations am I willing to release?

Show:

Where can I show more of my truth right now?

Go home:

What are my instincts trying to tell me?

May your answers bring you closer to your heart. Please don’t forget that your heart has what it takes!

P.S. Check in with your heart every day. Take a moment to connect and listen!

I believe that to reclaim our creative side we also have to consciously nurture our mind, body and soul. This is key to be happy and aligned with who we truly are and to live from our hearts.

That’s why we’re creating an ebook for you to pass on what we’ve learned.

We’d love you to have lots of awesome positive energy that you need to achieve all those amazing things you want to do in your life!

If you’re interested in how to thrive on a plant-based diet we invite you to subscribe to Lau’s mailinglist and to follow plant-based with Grace for inspiration.

XO

Together with my friend and health coach Grace Chinn we’re spreading the plant-based message. From our experiences, we truly believe that focussing on eating more plants is a powerful catalyst to leading a happy and wholesome life.

First of all, give yourself permission to be creative. Your creativity deserves priority. On a very busy day you can still do the minimum. However, promise yourself that you don’t go to bed without doing something creative. Even if its organizing your books on a shelf by colour or sharpening some pencils.

2. Make little drawings in your notebook. Especially during busy periods it’s very satisfying. One little drawing isn’t that impressive but when there are 30 little ones on 1 page it looks great! A tiny drawing, let’s say 3 by 3 cm, takes a couple of minutes to draw so there’s no excuse.

6. Learn to love the process. Try to stay present and allow yourself enjoy the creative process. Don’t focus on the result, embrace imperfections and always go for progress.

7. Give yourself some time. You don’t have to finish your project today or tomorrow. You have time. It’s totally okay to let it be for a time. No sweat honey!

8. Create a nice space for yourself where you feel comfortable working on your projects. This doesn’t have to be an entire room, it can also be a desk in the corner of your bedroom. As long as it’s a sacred space for you. Light a candle and add some essential oils to create me-time.

3. Handletter your shoppinglists or draw something in your little one’s home to school communication notebook. You’re writing this anyway so why not enjoying it?!

4. If you’re into drawing: small sketchbooks are the best! Passport size works just fine because it takes less time to fill a page than a bigger size sketchbook. I personally love the Moleskine watercolour pocket albums and the Midori passport size refill notebooks (012 Sketch paper).

5. Creativity’s not just drawing or painting. It can be anything from baking a cake to decorating a room to take nice photos. If you do one of your favourite creative things mindfully, even if it’s 5 minutes a day, you’ll feel more content and fulfilled.

9. Prioritize play! Some things can wait, like the laundry or a dusty shelf. When you sit and create something first and then do the chores, you’ll do them with a lighter heart and you’ll see that you finish them in no-time. We often put so much energy in procrastinating or complaining. Use that energy for creating something instead!

Last but not least: follow curiosity! This makes you feel engaged and alive. When curiosity guides, you’re always inspired and say the word ‘WOW’ many times a day. There are so many new things to discover and learn and internet’s great way to find out anything. When you wonder about how something was made, how it works grows or happens you’ll have plenty of things to discover.

Do you ever speak about your creative projects with others? Wouldn’t it be nice to speak positively with others about the value of our creative sides?

When it comes to our creations we tend to say ¨Oh you know, it’s not that good.¨ ¨Oh, it’s so easy to do, everybody can do that.¨ ¨Oh I know a person who’s REALLY good at this.¨

I know that I say these things because I grew up with the idea that drawing and making art is just a hobby. However, on my current route to find my truth I wonder: what if my (he)ART could support my life?

I believe that everybody deserves to be encouraged in the direction of their own creative dreams. When we respect creativity in ourselves and in others we celebrate life to the fullest.

Creativity opens doors to happiness, joy, open minds and playfulness!

We all have our own beliefs about creativity and artists. With saying things casually like: ¨Oh, I’m not so artistic¨ to our friends or children we fall into a trap. Because when we say things like this we tell others that there’s a thing as ¨not being creative¨. Which is far from the truth.

Self-care
is a struggle for many women. Guilt often kicks in as soon as we want to do
something that is just for ourselves. Just because we want to relax, let go and
have fun. ¨What am I thinking? No way! I don’t have the support I need.¨ is
what our inner saboteurs tell us. And there’s always work to do or someone that
needs our attention. Especially when you’re a starting female entrepreneur who
has a family. Like me.

How on earth was I going to sell retreats when I wasn’t giving myself the retreat I needed? So here’s what I did: I booked a solo surf trip to Morocco. And I organized a free virtual creative retreat for people that wanted to learn how to reclaim their creative side and learn how to live more from their heARTs.

As an entrepreneur and mom you’re not only responsible for your family and business, but you’re also an example to your loved ones. Your kids, your partner, your friends and your clients. What do you show them when you’re not taking care of yourself? How can you show your loved ones that they’re worth the best, when you’re not giving it to yourself?

I enjoyed life to the fullest when I was in Morocco. I felt my whole body, mind and soul relaxing. I felt nourished by the fresh and delicious meals. I made new friends. I felt refreshed by the ocean. I could let go while practicing yoga. Surfing made me feel alive and connected to mother Earth again. I drew in my sketchbook while the sun was setting and the gorgeous colours of the scenery made me realize that I’m very lucky to be alive. I felt inspired, but most of all I felt freedom & joy.

Because of this experience I feel more passionate than I’ve ever been to continue with my projects. With a grateful heart and sparkling eyes, I’ll follow my inner compass. It tells me to keep going no matter what happens. I know that I won’t give up and I feel so grateful for everything that I’ve learned so far on my creative journey. Progress is always better than perfection, and not trying is losing out.

I’m sharing this with you because my journey can be an example to you. I hope that it inspires to follow your own inner compass. You live NOW and how you’d like to create space for you and your desires is up to you. I hope you realize that you can do so much more than you think. Your heART has what it takes. Live by it!

What’s the best thing you’ve ever done for yourself or for your business? Let me know in a comment below, I’d love to hear from you!

I’m running my own business from home and have a 15-month-old toddler. I’m organizing retreats in San Sebastián that weren’t selling. I was wondering why? I realized that I was craving exactly what I was offering. I needed a break. Some sunshine. Vitamin sea. Surfing. Good food.

It was a big thing for me to leave my family for five days. I do not take it for granted that my husband supported my desire and took time off from work to care of our son. I do not take it for granted that other women joined my (virtual) creative retreat. I have deep respect for you.

When you want to make things it’s totally fine to do that just for you. To do it because you want to make something and have fun creating it. No matter what others (will) think. You can start again like a phoenix rising from the ashes.

Priority for pleasure and play please! If you feel that you could use some extra support. Give yourself the gift of a free virtual creative retreat in January 2019. Take yourself to the Free heART resort to start reclaiming your creative side with tips and exercises to do at home, at your own pace.

What’s your intention for the New Year? Please let me know in a comment below. I’m curious and love to hear from you!

Nazaré is a place in Portugal world famous for its giant waves. The waves are bigger than 20m (!) and there are big waves surfing competition being held every year. This week the Nazaré challenge world surf league took place.

I find it so fascinating that people surf those massive waves. Even though the surfers are very experienced I cannot imagine how they’re able to overcome the fear. I’ve been out in the ocean in waves that were too big or me to surf and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. The fear kept me save and told me my limit had been reached. Go big or go home? Home please!

Fear is natural. We all know that voice that’s telling us that it isn’t comfortable with something or simply that it’s just not ready for what’s coming. Whether it’s surfing big waves or putting your creative work out in the world.

I surfed on the internet and I found three tips from the famous surf writer Nick Carroll to ‘reset the system’. These three things will get you out of the ‘fear loop’ and give yourself a chance to see the situation clearly again. I think that these tips are also relevant for creative processes.

Three things you can try to overcome fear:

Share your fear and talk to others about what spooks you.

Concentrate on your breathing. Take 10 deep breaths and feel what it does to you.

Try it, do it anyway! Catch that wave! This is the fastest way to freedom. Enjoy whatever it is with a fearless and open heart. Consider this: A wipe out is even better than a frozen and stuck position as it makes you feel alive.

Please let me know if these tips are helpful for you. I’d love to hear from you and how you overcome your fear to show your creations to the world. Leave a comment below this blogpost!

Some of these surfing animals are naturals. Others are sharing a surfboard with their human. Sharing the same passion for waves, isn’t that the coolest thing? Watching these animals surf makes my heart melt.

Nature’s magnificent and oh so creative. What (creative) inspiration do you get from it? I’d love to hear how it inspires you! Please let me now in a comment below.